Gold Cup kicks off with exciting start (Monday links)

Panama, featuring former Sounders FC trialist Roberto Chen, knocked off favored Mexico, 2-1 — another troubling result for coach Jose Manuel de la Torre. Before that, unheralded Martinique got a tremendous late goal to shock Canada, 1-0, on the final kick of the game. Canada’s new coach can’t come soon enough, it seems.

The U.S. doesn’t play until Tuesday, where it will be a very important tournament for some, but ex-Sounder Mario Martinez will be in action with Honduras on Monday.

Let’s get to some links:

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— First off, here is an interview with ex-Sounders DP Christian Tiffert, who was bought out earlier this year and joined a second-division team in Germany. He said he would’ve liked more time in Seattle but isn’t mad at the team. He added the team approached him to reach a settlement to go after a big forward signing. He said he enjoyed living in America but also warned of MLS unpredictability.

— In big MLS news, one report says Toronto FC is set to sign Uruguayan forward Diego Forlan. Of course, there are other reports denying as much.